Traffic signals at Airport and Catasauqua roads back to normal

These are among the signs indicating the proper lanes for motorists on Catasauqua… (DAN HARTZELL, THE MORNING…)

January 10, 2013|Dan Hartzell | The Road Warrior

Q: Regarding the intersection at Airport and Catasauqua roads, there are some signage issues, but the most immediate problem results from the re-timing of the lights. I understand there was an accident and the lights were reset as a result. Now westbound Catasauqua right-turn traffic cannot turn onto Airport during the time that traffic exiting 22 east gets a green onto Catasauqua eastbound. This results in long lines on Catasauqua, and has been going on since late December. Is there a plan to re-time it?

— Robert Thompson, Bethlehem

Q: Why did they change the sequence of the traffic signal at Airport and Catasauqua roads in Hanover Township, Lehigh County? From Catasauqua onto Airport, the right-turn arrow would illuminate while traffic exited the ramp from eastbound Route 22 because there were no conflicts. Now the arrow goes out during that time, causing major backups on Catasauqua Road.

— Christopher P. Mellon, Bethlehem

A: Regarding Airport and Catasauqua roads, Gregory Ryan, Gillian Girvin, Kathy Heckman, Bruce V. Miller, Ann Yost and Sue Christoff, all of Bethlehem; Jim Miller of Whitehall Township; Linda Binde of Upper Macungie Township; and R.B. Hoff have steered similar questions and comments regarding this troublesome intersection into my email garage in the last year or so. Many of these focused on the matter of motorist confusion as to the proper lane choice on the approach to Airport Road, and after the right turn onto Airport north is made — decisions on taking 22 east, 22 west or remaining on Airport (Route 987) follow quickly and in rapid succession.

As we learned in 2009, Hanover Township, Lehigh County, added signage and lane markings to help clarify the complex situation. Some motorists still don't seem to be getting the message, though I'm not sure what more could be done: Large overhead signs are posted over the lanes, marking each one, 300 feet in advance of the intersection, and the repeated lane markings begin there as well. Given a reasonable sight-distance, the information is available beginning 400 feet or more in advance. "Most people can't, or won't, read the nomenclature on the road," Miller suggested, and I think he's onto something. Some people simply aren't paying enough attention to the lane markings or the signs.

You steered toward a similar assessment, Robert, noting that while some out-of-towners might be legitimately confused, "I suspect that a few locals are 'playing dumb' and getting in the much shorter line for 22 east, and then forcing their way onto 987." My response to that is, For sure.

So this lane confusion has plagued the complex intersection since it opened in its current configuration some four years ago, and I'm at a loss for further means of clarification. Authorities can't force people to read road signs or follow their directives.

Turning to the traffic signals, there's clearly a malfunction — or at least, there was. It may have been repaired since I visited on Tuesday, and if it hasn't been, it certainly will be, said Jeff Mouer, maintenance supervisor for Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The complaints about the loss of green-arrow time all pulled into my email garage in the last week or so, since the Dec. 28 accident you cite, Robert, that damaged the intersection's signal control box, knocking the signals out completely. Temporary stop signs had to be installed.

During my Tuesday visit, the lights were functioning exactly as you describe, Robert and Christopher, and PennDOT engineer Tom Walter said that's not the way phasing is designed.

In the proper operation, the two right-turn lanes from Catasauqua to Airport north had gotten green arrows while opposing traffic from the 22 off-ramp turned onto Airport south or went straight across to Catasauqua east, because those streams of traffic do not conflict. Left turns from the ramp onto Airport north are prohibited — there's a dedicated off-ramp for that traffic on the east side of the overpass. (If some motorists are making that turn anyway, as you say, Robert, that poses a genuine safety problem. The prohibition should be enforced; unfortunately the township has no police department.)

In addition, the right-turn arrows should be illuminated when southbound Airport traffic gets its exclusive left-turn phase onto Catasauqua east, but that's not the case now. The loss of the arrow on those two phases — 31 and 22 seconds, respectively — stifles traffic flow for nearly a minute for each full cycle. Small wonder traffic is backing up on Catasauqua Road at peak periods.